Selvage forming mechanism



July 24, 1951 P. w. ROBINSON 2,561,416

' SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Filed July 14. 1947 4 SheetsSheeo 1 FIGJ.

INVEN TOFZ 5+ mph-L A T'TORNEYS July 24, 1951 P. w. ROBINSON I 2,561,416

SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Filed July 14. 1947 4 Shn'etS-Slieet'3 Pic-3.7

4* 4e I iici@\\ nae. 6 44 ATTORNEYS July 24, 1951 P. w. ROBINSON 2,551,416

I SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1 947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 was INVENTOR- BY Mi... ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 24, 1951 SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM Philip Worth Robinson, Wocdfield Cedars, m-

bersley, England, assignor to T. Bond Worth & Sons Limited, Severn Valley Mills, Stourport on Severn, England, a British company Application July 14, 1947, Serial N0. 760,805 In Great Britain February 26, 1946 14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method of and means for forming a selvedge on a fabric woven in looms which employ needles or carriers to carry the Weft through the warps instead of inserting the wefts by means of shuttles such looms being referred to in the claims as looms of kind specified. The present invention is particularly applicable to carpet looms or looms for weaving other fabrics which require a firm selvedge which has to be formed by the interlocking of the Weft loops with thread, usually passed through the weft loops by small shuttles.

The present invention has for its main object the elimination of the use of shuttles for inserting the thread which binds the weft loops, it having been found in practice that the necessity for filling these shuttles is a major cause of loom stoppages.

Prior proposals for achieving this object have employed a latched needle or a hook especially adapted to act in the manner of a latched needle operating at the side of the fabric at which a selvedge is to be formed, such needle or hook having a knitting action in that a loop of selvedge thread inserted through a weft loop is held on the body of the needle or hook during the next succeeding insertion of selvedge thread and is in such succeeding operation slipped over the end of the needle or hook whereby the newly inserted thread loop is passed through both its associated weft loop and through the prior thread loop. In the case of the unlatched hook a single thread engaged by the hook serves to fill by reason of its cross-sectional dimensions the operative hooked end portion of the hook so that the loop held on the body of the hook may be discharged oil the end thereof riding over the engaged single thread which thus acts as a latch in regard tothe discharge.

It will be apparent that such an arrangement of hook can work successfully only with a restricted range of thread thicknesses, above which the thread will not be caught up by the hook, and below which the thread will not serve to fill the hooked portion sufficiently to allow the preceding thread loop on the body of the hook to ride over the end.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method of means for achieving the primary object in which the operations of inserting the selvedge thread loop through a weft loop and a previously inserted selvedge thread loop are carried out with greater precision and certainty, and with the possibility of operating at a higher speed thus to reduce the cost of the article, by reason of the definite and positive positioning, holding, and release of said previously inserted. selvedge thread loop as compared with the latched needle or equivalent hook method.

, Still another object is to avoid the uncertainty in the operation of a latch on a latched needle or the uncertainty of the equivalent mode of operation of the hook as previously described, by the provision of separate and precisely controlled hook retaining and releasing means for the selvedge thread apart from an inserting needle for the latter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in looms such as carpet looms having a considerable distance between the point where the weft is delivered and the point where it is eventually held in the warps, that is to say having a long beat up, selvedge forming mechanism which includes a member for transferring the looped end of the weft from the first to the second said position so that the selvedge thread can then be inserted through this loop and does not subsequently undergo appreciable displacement with resultant loosening or other undesirable effects on the selvedge as a result of the beating-up action of the loom.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown in a loom of the kind specified one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention for forming a selvedge and there is also diagrammatically shown the performance of the new or improved method according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a diagram showing how the weft loops are bound by the thread, this diagram showing the thread inserting needle in its receded position and the thread hook engaging with a previously inserted loop, the weft inserting needle being omitted for clarity.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the parts after the new loop has been inserted by the thread inserting needle through the weft loop and through the thread loop previously inserted. This figure shows the thread hook engagin the new thread p and the thread inserting needle receding.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation showing the general arrangement.

Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding with Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the spindle supporting frame and associated parts, the weft inserting needle being shown approaching the guide housing.

assume Figure 6 is a section on line fi-E of Figure 5, the weft inserting needle being shown in position in the guide opening.

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the spindle supportin frame and associated parts.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-4! of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view on line ill-4 ll of Figure 8.

In the construction illustrated at a suitable position on the loom frame H is a support I2 for a spool it] of thread used for binding the weft loops. The warp-s are shown at l4, the breast beam at I5 and the take-up device at MS.

Secured to a suitable part i l of the loom frame is a spindle supportin frame l8, this spindle supporting frame carries three vertical. spindles, a primary spindle 59 which can oscillate, a secondary oscillating spindle 2i! and a thread hook spindle 2|.

Mounted in suitable hearings on the lower part of the loom frame are two parallel horizontal shafts. One of these 22 carries a driving cam 23,. the cam groove engaging a roller on a pin 24 carried by an oscillating lever 25 pivoted at 26 to the loom frame. This lever is provided with a second arm 2'! connected by a lever 28. the length of which is adjustable, to a crank arm 29 fixed to the spindle I9, the arrangement being such that as the shaft 22 revolve-s the lever .21 is oscillated and through the link 28 and crank arm 29 oscillates the shaft I9. This shaft 59 is provided with a second crank arm connected by a link 3!, the length of which is adjustable, to a crank arm fixed on the shaft 2t so that the shaft is oscillated thereby. The shaft 26 has fixed on it a cam 33 which engages a pin or roller 34 on a crank arm 35 fixed to the spindle 2! whereby the spindle 2| is also oscillated. The spindle Z! is provided with a collar 36 having a projecting arm 37! on which is a roller 33 en" gaged by a face cam 39 on the spindle 20 and between. the collar 36 and the lower member of the frame It is a spring it. The spindle 2! is also provided with a collar M limiting endwise movement of the spindle. As the cam 39 is oscillated, endwise movement against spring pressure of the spring ill is imparted to the spindle 2! so that in addition to oscillating the spindle if has an up and down movement. At the upper end of the spindle 2i and above the frame it is fixed a boss 42 carrying the thread hook it.

Mounted on the top of the frame I8 is a guide plate M having two openings 45, -56.

The shaft 4"! which is parallel to the shaft 22 carries a cam 48 in which is a cam groove ill engaging the pin or roller 50 on a lever arm pivoted at 52 on the loom frame. The lever arm 51 carries a quadrant plate in which are arcuate slots 5 t engaged by bolts 55 used adjustably to secure to the quadrant plate 53 the weft hook 56, the upper end of which is adapted to engage the weft loops 5! in succession and to draw them forwardly against the guide plate 44, the operative end of the weft hook engaging in the opening 45 in the guide plate.

Secured to the top of the frame It is a guide bracket 58 in which is guided the thread inserting needle 59. This needle has a rectilinear reciprocating movement in the guide holes in the guide bracket.

The upper end of the spindle if? on the upper side of the frame 58 is provided with a disc fill oscillating in an opening in the guide bracket and provided with a crank pin M which engages a slot 62 in a cross bar 33 secured to the needle 59 by a screw 64, the arrangement being such that as the shaft is oscillates it drives the needle 59 backwards and forwards by the crank pin 6|.

Secured to the top of the frame [8 is a guide housing 65. This guide housing is provided with an opening 66 having a tapering mouth for receiving the forward end of the weft inserting needle 6'7. This guide housing is also provided with an opening 53 for the end portion of the Weft hook 56.

The weft inserting needle is provided with the usual opening 59 through which the weft 51 passes and it is further provided with a recess or gap Til so that the end of the Weft hook 5'6 which is provided with a projection II can pass through the lower side of the weft loop and engage the weft.

The guide housing is also provided with a guide hole 2 for the thread inserting needle and on its underside it is provided with bracket 13 carrying a pin it on which is a grooved guide disc "5 for the thread 76 from the spool 13. This thread is taken through the eye ll of the thread inserting needle 59.

The housing 65 is provided with an open slot it in order to enable the weft hook 56 to carry the weft forwardly to the guide plate 44.

The two shafts 22 and 4? are driven at the same speed from the driving shaft of the loom by suitable transmission gear which is not shown.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 which are diagrammatic only, after each weft loop 51 has been inserted through the shed by the weft inserting needle El, the thread inserting needle 59 is advanced and carries a loop of the thread l6 through the weft loop and through the loop "19 which has been inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop. This thread loop id is held in such position by the thread hook 43 so that it is looped around the line defining the path of the needle 59, that is to say the path of its insertion. As the thread inserting needle 59 moves forwardly to carry the thread through the newly inserted weft loop ill the said weft loop is drawn forwardly by the weft hook 56. The thread inserting needle 59 after passing through the newly inserted weft loop passes through the thread loop "ill and the thread hook 33 moves towards the edge of the fabric so that it becomes released from the thread loop of the previously inserted weft loop, the thread hook as it moves towards the edge of the fabric having a relatively slight upward movement produced by the Spring ill. The thread hook 43 then moves outwardly again from the side of the fabric and slightly downwardly and passes between the side of the through the guide plate at. The thread hook 43 continues to hold the newly inserted thread loop in position so that at the following cycle of operations another loop of thread is inserted through it.

Operation of he fabric take-up device causes the .loop is to assume in succession the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 after they have been released by the thread hook 43.

The movements of the thread inserting needle, the weft hookand the thread hook are controlled by the cams 23, '48 and 33 to enable the projecton H of the weft hook to pass into and through the gap in the side of the weft inserting needle 6'! and to engage the weft loop and hold it while the weft inserting needle 61 is withdrawn, after which the weft hook draws the weft loop up to the guide plate 44. The cam groove 49is shaped to provide for an initial movement of the weft hook 56 to bring its projection H into the gap 10 and then to pause before it completes its movement towards the plate 44.

The cam groove in the cam .23 provides for the spindles carried by the frame l8 to remain sta tionary during about three quarters of the cycle of operations and to provide for a quick oscillation of the spindle during the other quarter of a revolution of the shaft 22.

The end of the thread 16 after passing through the eye of the thread inserting needle is secured to the edge of the fabric at its leading end. It may for instance, be tied to ,the first weft loop inserted. I

' What I claim then is:

1. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may passa loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, 'saidweft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes.

' 2. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, a guide for said threadinserting needle, adapted to guide said thread insorting needle for movement in a direction approximately parallel to the edge of the fabric, means for reciprocating the thread-inserting needle in said guide so that it may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each Weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for moveinent enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle 6 and hold it while thethread-inserting needle recedes.

3.. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one Side near its leading end, a threadinserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass .a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, the operative end of the weft hook moving approximately parallelto the direction of movement of the thread-inserting needle, both the thread-inserting needle and the operative end of the weft hook moving approximately parallel to the edge of the fabric, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while .the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the thread hook, to release it from said previously inserted thread loop, and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes.

4. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to theweft whereby the threadinserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes thenew thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the operative end of the thread hook towards and away from the side of the fabric to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes.

5. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlockin weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of 'weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near it leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the thread hook towards the edge of the fabric to release it from said previously inserted thread loop andto cause it to move away from the edge of the fabric and to engage between the thread and the threadinserting needle so a to hold the thread while the needle recedes.

' 6. In a loom of the kind specified means for intel-locking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the Weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook beingmounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and mean for moving the operative end of the thread hook in an upwardly-inclined direction towards the edge of the fabric to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to move in a downwardly-inclined direction away from the edge of the fabric so as to engage between the thread and the thread-insorting needle so as to hold the thread while the needle recedes.

'7. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the Weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passe the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the threadhook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes, and a guide plate having an opening, and means for holdin each weft loop in turn against one surface thereof while the thread-inserting needle passes through the weft loop and through the opening in the guide plate. v

8. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passm the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes, and a guide plate having a pair of spaced openings, the operative end of the weft hook entering one of said openings to hold the weft loop against one side of said guide plate while the thread-inserting needle passes through the other opening in the guide plate and takes the thread through the loop.

9. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a threadinserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes, and a guide plate having a pair of spaced openings, the operative end of. the weft hook entering one of said openings to hold the weft loop against one side of said guide plate while the thread-inserting needle passes through the other opening in the guide plate and takes the thread through the loop, said thread hook being disposed at the opposite side of said guide plate from that against which the weft loop is held by the weft hook.

10. In a loom of the kind specified meansfor interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being pivotally mounted on the loom frame, means for oscillating said weft hook about the axis of its pivot, said axis being approximately parallel to the weft, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, and means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while th thread-inserting needle recedes.

11. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each Weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it While the thread-inserting needle recedes, a spindlesupporting frame, and a guide housing supported on said frame, said guide housing being adapted to guide the thread-inserting needle and the leading end of the weft-inserting needle and receive the weft engaging end of the weft hook as these members pass into said guide housing.

12. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a threadlnserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the thread-inserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said Weft hook being mounted for movement enablin it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the thread-inserting needle and hold it while the thread-inserting needle recedes, a spindle-supporting frame, and a guide housing supported on said frame said guide housing being adapted to guide the thread-inserting needle and receive the leading end of the weft-inserting needle and the weft engaging end of the weft hook as these members pass into said guide housing, and a guide bracket on said spindle-supporting frame for the thread-inserting needle.

13. In a loom of the kind specified means for interlocking weft loops with thread comprising a weft-inserting element for inserting double shots of weft, said weft-inserting element having a gap in one side near its leading end, a thread-inserting needle, means for guiding and moving the needle transversely to the weft whereby the threadinserting needle may pass a loop of thread through the weft loops in succession, a weft hook engaging each weft loop in succession while a loop of thread is inserted therethrough, said weft hook being mounted for movement enabling it to move the weft loop towards the fell of the cloth, a thread hook for engaging and holding a loop of thread which has been previously inserted through the last previously inserted weft loop while the thread-inserting needle passes the new thread loop through said previously inserted thread loop, means for moving the thread hook to release it from said previously inserted thread loop and to cause it to engage the thread on the threadinserting needle and hold it while the threadinserting needle recedes, a spindle-supporting frame on the loom, primary and secondary oscillating spindles in said frame, an oscillating thread hook spindle in said spindle-supporting frame, the primary spindle driving the thread-inserting needle and the secondary oscillating spindle having driving means for oscillating the thread hook spindle and having a cam for imparting endwise movement to the thread hook spindle.

14. In the manufacture of a woven fabric in which double shots of weft are inserted by a weft needle in between each shedding operation of the warps, a method of binding in such double shots of weft to form a selvedge edge at the edge of the fabric remote from the edge at which the weft needle first enters the fabric, which method comprises the steps of, withdrawing a loop of weft-thread from the weft needle; moving said weft loop towards the fell of the fabric; holding the weft loop in a position adjacent to the fell of the fabric; inserting a loop of selvedge thread from a bulk thread carrier through said weft loop; holding said inserted selvedge thread loop in such position that it is looped around the line defining the path of its insertion; releasing the weft loop; inserting the next succeeding selvedge thread loop through the next succeeding weft loop which is withdrawn from the weft needle, moved towards and held adjacent to the fell of the fabric in a like manner to the first said weft loop, and through the selvedge thread loop last inserted; releasing the latter and the second said weft loop.

PHILIP WORTH ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,296,025 Waite Mar. 4, 1919 1,604,365 Mutzberg Oct. 26, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 119,588 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1918 141,337 Germany June 27, 1901 

